Anyone who has experienced a rear-end vehicle collision will be fearful of a recurring incident at a traffic light or when being closely followed. Those who have never been rear-ended may not even concern themselves with this possibility while on the road. The fact of the matter is that rear-end collisions can lead to serious injuries and losses even if they occur at relatively low speeds. Unfortunately, a review of recent Carlsbad car accidents reveals that rear-end crashes occur at an alarming rate. That’s why anyone who has been rear-ended needs to seek the advice of a Carlsbad car accident lawyer as soon as possible, even if that person does not feel that he or she was seriously injured. Below is an overview of this problem.

Carlsbad Car Accident Statistics – Rear-End Crashes

A review of the statistics regarding rear-end Carlsbad car accidents shows that these types of collisions occur more often than any other type of crash. Below are the percentages of rear-end collisions relative to all of the Carlsbad car accidents that occurred during the previous three complete calendar years:

2013 – 44.6 percent of crashes

2014 – 41.8 percent of crashes

2015 – 42.8 percent of crashes

The statistics also reveal that only one other type of crash even crossed the 20 percent threshold in any of the previous three years. Therefore, rear-end accidents happen more than twice as often as any other type of collision in Carlsbad. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, reports that 29 percent of all car accidents in the United States are rear-end crashes. Carlsbad is home to a much higher percentage of these accidents than the national average.

Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions

According to several different sources, there are certain causes of rear-end accidents that are more common than others. A few examples include:

Distracted driving – If the trailing driver is not focused on the vehicle he or she is following, a distraction of even a split-second can lead to an accident and injuries.

Following too closely – We are all taught from the time that we drive that we need to provide for a proper amount of following distance. Failing to do so cuts the amount of time available to avoid a crash.

Speeding – Speeding is another way in which the margin of error for a trailing driver is diminished significantly, leaving less time to avoid a collision.

Driver impairment – When someone drives while intoxicated, his or her judgment and reaction times are impaired. This increases the likelihood that he or she will collide with a vehicle he or she is trailing.

There are other causes of these types of accidents, and more of them occur at intersections than anywhere else on the roads.

Common Injuries Resulting from Rear-End Crashes

The most common type of injury associated with rear-end collisions is an injury to the neck. That’s why many people refer to these crashes as “whiplash accidents.” Whiplash can be a severe injury for many people, and what’s most dangerous about it is that people may not feel as though it’s significant until months later. For some people, whiplash never really goes away. It can debilitate a person and damage his or her quality of life.

In addition to whiplash, head and neck injuries are commonly associated with rear-end crashes for good reason. The body was not made to absorb shock levels that can be generated by vehicles even at low speeds, and the spine is often the most vulnerable part of the body when this happens. This type of trauma can lead to spinal cord contusions, traumatic brain injuries and several other types of problems with the head, neck and back.

Why You Need a Carlsbad Car Accident Lawyer

Given all that can happen as a result of a rear-end collision, anyone who has been harmed in this manner needs to make sure that he or she obtains the help of an experienced Carlsbad car accident lawyer. If this includes you or someone you love, contact Gomez Trial Attorneys today to schedule a free initial consultation.